The police command in Oyo has accused corps members in Ibadan of attacking its officers while on duty.

On Friday, its spokesman Adewale Osifeso explained that “A reckless driving corps member, in the company of his colleagues while returning from their CDS, in a white tinted Toyota Camry with Reg. No ABY 237 JR was flagged down by operatives on legitimate stop and search duties along Black Horse Area, New Garage, Off Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road.”

”The corps member, however, drove directly towards the officers and knocked down one Sgt. Agbadahun Bright,” he added.

The police spokesman added that the corps member, in a bid to escape, ”drove off without batting an eyelid and veered off his lane towards the direction of other oncoming vehicles,” till he ran into a tricycle from where the policemen caught up with him.

“On sighting his returning colleagues from their various community development service groups, he immediately raised a false alarm about being shot at by the police officers,” Mr Osifeso added. “Thus, inciting the now riotous corps members to completely cut off the flow of traffic by blocking the road and other adjoining routes before proceeding to attack any officer in sight.”

According to him, the police did not fire a shot at the corps member during the melee.

“Assertively, no shot was fired at the scene by any officer(s) before or after the incident at the corps member or his vehicle, rather the riotous corps members smashed the side mirrors of the officer’s operational vehicle, broke its windscreen and deflated all its tyres,” explained Mr Osifeso. “The riotous corps members then pounced on Sgt. Agbadahun Bright stabbed his right cheek with a sharp object. The officer was immediately rescued by a swift police reinforcement, and he is presently receiving medical attention.”

According to him, police commissioner Ngozi Onadeko had urged officers of the command to remain civil and professional in discharging their duties.

Mr Osisefo said further investigations were ongoing, and updates would be provided on the matter. 

(NAN)